The History of English

In 15 63, just four years into the reign of elizabeth a new law was adopted that took an entirely different approach to the problem. It required all young people to seek apprenticeships under local masters who could train them in a specific profession. The law also levied a tax for the first time to help provide financial support for the poor. Vagrants and thieves were still subjected to severe punishment but this particular law is considered to be the first of what became known as the elizabethan poor laws. Later in elabeth's reign, a more comprehensive law was adopted which provided the basis for dealing with the problem of poverty well into the 18 hundreds.